For the last year, Jean Boudreau has been the school’s principal, taking the place of Rob Jones, who retired after being with the school for 30 years, both as a teacher and as an administrator.

However, the position became open after Boudreau told the division that he had decided to return to P.E.I. for personal reasons.

Northern Gateway Superintendent Kevin Andrea announced on Thursday, May 22 that Egbert Stang will be the principal of Hilltop High School starting in September.

“Egbert Stang will be transferring to Whitecourt from our [Northern Gateway] Fox Creek School where he has served as principal for the last two years,” Andrea said. “He brings with him a wealth of experience as a teacher and an administrator.”

Stang said he just recently found out about the Hilltop opening and although he has enjoyed his time as principal at Fox Creek School, he decided it was the right time to move on.

“When I was told about the possibility of the Hilltop position, I thought it would be a great opportunity,” Stang said. “It is a great school and community with a lot of good things going and I am at the right point in my career and my life to take on a new challenge.”

Stang said he has been in the education field for a number of years now. He started teaching back in 1978 close to the area he grew up in southern Saskatchewan.

Stang continued teaching for 14 years in rural Saskatchewan before deciding to make the jump to administration, taking on the role of vice principal for one year before becoming principal at two different schools, not including Fox Creek.

Stang said he has also spent some time working at the central office of three different school districts, serving as superintendent for eight years.

After spending a number of years in education, Stang took a year off to decide whether he should step away from education and take on a different challenge.

“Then I came to Fox Creek and I have not looked back,” Stang said. “I have enjoyed my time so much at Fox Creek, it really has got me excited to be in education.”

Boudreau said he really has enjoyed his time at Hilltop and wished circumstances were different so that he could stay.

“I told the new principal coming in this morning that these are some of the nicest kids that I have ever come across and anybody who is teaching or in administration is so lucky to have this group of kids.”

He also said the staff is among the best he has ever worked with.

“They are innovative and they care so much about the kids,” Boudreau. “If this school was in P.EI. and I was closer to my family, I would definitely be staying.”